Frozen beverage dispenser

Abstract

An improved frozen product dispenser wherein a product is placed into a cooled hopper and the product is then fed from the hopper into a freezing and dispensing chamber where it is frozen and dispensed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A split refrigeration system, comprising:
 a compressor, the compressor having a compressor output; 
 a condenser coupled to the compressor output, the condenser having a condenser output; 
 a first expansion valve coupled to the condenser output, the first expansion valve having a first expansion valve output; 
 a hopper evaporator shut off valve coupled to the condenser, the hopper evaporator shut off valve having a hopper evaporator shut off valve output; 
 a first barrel evaporator coupled to the expansion valve output and coupled with a first freezing chamber; and 
 a first hopper evaporator coupled to the hopper evaporator shut off valve output and coupled with a first hopper. 
 
     
     
       2. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second barrel evaporator, a second expansion valve, and a second hopper evaporator,
 wherein the second expansion valve is coupled between the condenser output and the second barrel evaporator, and 
 wherein the second hopper evaporator is coupled to the hopper evaporator shut off valve output. 
 
     
     
       3. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a capillary tube, the capillary tube coupled between the hopper evaporator shut off valve output and the first hopper evaporator. 
     
     
       4. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the first expansion valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
       5. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the split refrigeration system comprises only one compressor and only one condenser. 
     
     
       6. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor being positioned relative to the split refrigeration system such that the compressor provides refrigerant to both the first barrel evaporator and the first hopper evaporator, wherein a priority is given to the first barrel evaporator over the first hopper evaporator. 
     
     
       7. The split refrigeration system of  claim 1 ,
 the first barrel evaporator having a first barrel evaporator output; and 
 wherein the first barrel evaporator output has a pressure reading of approximately 45-65 pounds per square inch. 
 
     
     
       8. A frozen beverage system, comprising:
 a condenser; 
 a plurality of expansion valves operably connected to the condenser; 
 a plurality of hopper evaporator shut off valves operably connected to the condenser; 
 a plurality of barrel evaporators each operably connected to one of the plurality of expansion valves; and 
 a plurality of hopper evaporators each operably connected to one of the plurality of hopper evaporator shut off valves. 
 
     
     
       9. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 :
 wherein the plurality of expansion valves comprises two expansion valves; 
 wherein the plurality of hopper evaporator shut off valves comprises two hopper evaporator shut off valves; 
 wherein the plurality of barrel evaporators comprises two barrel evaporators; and 
 wherein the plurality of hopper evaporators comprises two hopper evaporators. 
 
     
     
       10. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 , wherein operably connected comprises connection with refrigeration tubing. 
     
     
       11. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 , wherein the refrigeration system comprises only one condenser. 
     
     
       12. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of capillary tubes, the plurality of capillary tubes each operably connected between one of the plurality of hopper evaporator shut off valves and one of the plurality of hopper evaporators. 
     
     
       13. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 , wherein the condenser being positioned within the frozen beverage system such that the condenser provides refrigerant to both the plurality of barrel evaporators and the plurality of hopper evaporators, wherein a priority is given to the plurality of barrel evaporators over the plurality of hopper evaporators. 
     
     
       14. The frozen beverage system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein at least one of the plurality of barrel evaporators having a first barrel evaporator output; and 
 wherein the first barrel evaporator output has a pressure reading of approximately 45-65 pounds per square inch. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of cooling and/or freezing in a frozen beverage machine, the frozen beverage machine having a condenser, the condenser coupled to both a hopper evaporator and a barrel evaporator, the hopper evaporator having a hopper evaporator shut off valve, comprising:
 determining whether a barrel freezing should be given priority over a hopper cooling; 
 providing priority to the barrel freezing based on the determination that the barrel freezing should be given priority over the hopper cooling, wherein priority comprises:
 shutting off the hopper evaporator shut off valve, 
 providing refrigerant from the condenser to the barrel evaporator; and 
 
 providing no priority to the barrel freezing based on the determination that the barrel freezing should not be given priority over the hopper cooling, wherein no priority comprises:
 opening the hopper evaporator shut off valve, 
 providing refrigerant from the condenser to the hopper evaporator. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising turning off the condenser based on the frozen beverage machine not requiring the barrel freezing or the hopper cooling. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the frozen beverage machine having only a single condenser. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein priority further comprises ending no priority based on an expiration of a barrel freeze timer. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing priority immediately and no longer providing no priority based on the determination that the barrel freezing should be given priority over a hopper cooling. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein no priority further comprises:
 the barrel evaporator having a barrel evaporator output; and 
 maintaining a pressure of the barrel evaporator output at approximately 45-65 pounds per square inch.